Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught a baby (about an inch long, if that..very tiny) Horned Lizard AKA Horny Toad. I know their diet consists of mainly ants, and I've found websites that sell ants in large quantities. I currently have him/her housed in a 5-gallon plastic terrarium. With about 3 inches deep of sand (from a park playground) a small rock-like water dish, and a hide spot. For heat I use a heat pad (made for humans) under one side of the tank during the day (off at night) set on MED. Is this okay?
I have a few other questions.......

1) During the winter months (now) should I expect my baby HL to be hibernating all winter long (no eating/buried under sand)??

2) Can I substatute natural sunlight for artificial (uva/uvb)??

3) How can I give him natural sunlight? Put his plastic cage next to a window? doesnt plastic or glass block out the uv from the sun?

4) How many ants/baby crickets should I expect my HL to eat when hes only an inch long?

5) How do they get their water out in the wild? Will he really drink straight out of a water dish? How much water does a 1 inch desert reptile really need? Should I manually give him a couple drops a day (with a dropper, in his mouth)??

6) How do I find out the sex?

7) What are their behaviors in the summer/winter?

8) What's better a basking lamp or heating pad? With a heating pad how do I know what temperature it is and if hes getting enough heat? Should I have no heat in the winter and just let him hibernate???

9) When he sticks out his tongue to grab an ant, he grabs a couple granules of sand, after a period of time, does this sand build up in the stomach and clog his intestines and eventually cause death??...happens with baby bearded dragons...

10) What are the secrets/tips/suggestions to keeping a HL in captivity. How often is this successful??

Thank you for all the help and suggestions...my baby Horned Lizard will greatly appreciate it.

*Jessica*

0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Horned Lizard
1.0.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Cat
1.0.0 Ball Python
0.1.0 Rat
0.0.5 Tropical Fish (Cichlid/Semi-Aggressive)

You have so many questions that I suggest you go to www.phrynosoma.org and read the care pages. Most of it is answered there.

To get an idea what species of HL you have, can you say the general area where he was found?

You've got a difficult species to keep in captivity now. Lots of reading and dedication to care will get you through.
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Phrynosoma.Org
Phrynosoma.Com

I found him in Rio Verde, Arizona. Rio Verde is by Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills area. Its all desert. My mom has 5 acres of just desert land. I've collected some ants for him, and he hasn't eaten any. How do I know if they're fire ants?
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*Jessica*

0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Horned Lizard
1.0.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Cat
1.0.0 Ball Python
0.1.0 Rat
0.0.5 Tropical Fish (Cichlid/Semi-Aggressive)

I'm almost positive he's a Regal Horned Lizard.
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*Jessica*

0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Horned Lizard
1.0.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Cat
1.0.0 Ball Python
0.1.0 Rat
0.0.5 Tropical Fish (Cichlid/Semi-Aggressive)

It sure sounds like a Regal. The only other possibility would be desert HL, but not likely.
The heat pad won't cut the mustard if you want to keep him alive very long.
You don't want to put that little tank out in the sun because it will become a little oven and cook him. Best thing to do is get you at least a 20 gallon tank (and this won't be enough when he gets big) and get a good UV lamp of about 100 watts.

He probably isn't eating because of the setup you have. It's just too small and not right yet.

Did you do some reading?

It might be best for the little guy if you release him back where you found him.
But if you are sure you want to keep him you'll need to get the right setup for him.
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Phrynosoma.Org
Phrynosoma.Com

I have a few other questions.......

1) During the winter months (now) should I expect my baby HL to be hibernating all winter long (no eating/buried under sand)??

Yes they will but often many choose to keep the temps up and not hibernate the first year. Unless your aware of how healthy this animals is and with littel HL experience, it might not be a good idea.

2) Can I substatute natural sunlight for artificial (uva/uvb)??

Yes you need a bigger cage and either a flourescent tube 10.0 or mecury vapor, you also need a basking bulb with a flourescent because it doesn't put out heat. THe pad for heating is o.k. but you need overhead light which is natural.

3) How can I give him natural sunlight? Put his plastic cage next to a window? doesnt plastic or glass block out the uv from the sun? Be careful--plastic or glass can heat-up quickly beyond normal acceptable limits and kill your horned lizard. Basking side should be 105 or so and cool side 80 to 85 unless you have a short horned lizard found at higher elvations which could be lower.

4) How many ants/baby crickets should I expect my HL to eat when hes only an inch long?

Feed him pin head crickets maybe one to two would be good, healthy hl's grow fast. Feeding ants one ro twoa t a time, I pinch mine or put them in the fridge for 10 minutes to slow thenm down so they don't intimidate the animal.

5) How do they get their water out in the wild? Will he really drink straight out of a water dish? How much water does a 1 inch desert reptile really need? Should I manually give him a couple drops a day (with a dropper, in his mouth)??

If he will take water that way then by all means every couple days. If he is hoigh mountiuan specie he may need more hydration.

6) How do I find out the sex?

Don't even go there you got enough tpo be concerned with at the mpment - when he is older one of us will help you with that.

7) What are their behaviors in the summer/winter?

Summer active winter slower or inactive? Don't understand the question.

8) What's better a basking lamp or heating pad? With a heating pad how do I know what temperature it is and if hes getting enough heat? Should I have no heat in the winter and just let him hibernate???

Per above, he needs overhead lighting, please read our site about this.

9) When he sticks out his tongue to grab an ant, he grabs a couple granules of sand, after a period of time, does this sand build up in the stomach and clog his intestines and eventually cause death??...happens with baby bearded dragons...

IF you have very fine reptile sand this is common, they ussually pass it through, we mostly recommend using washed playsand from home depot, its a little graineir and seems to work well.

10) What are the secrets/tips/suggestions to keeping a HL in captivity. How often is this successful??

Per Cables post you need to read the site and get as much info as you can......

Thank you for all the help and suggestions...my baby Horned Lizard will greatly appreciate it.

Please post a picture of your animals so we can know what you have..........this was very short and sweet, hope it helps a little.
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Phrynosoma.org

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Basically you've doomed this poor little guy to a slow death. You should not have removed him nature. If possible return him to the wild.